Vacuum cleaner



p 1934- F. RIEBEL. JR" ET AL 1,974,124

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 28. 1931 Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER Delaware Application May 28, 1931, Serial No. 540,526

2 Claims.

The present invention relating as indicated to an improvement in vacuum cleaners, has more precise reference to a novel form of construction for a means for removably attaching an air conduit to such vacuum cleaners. In the particular form of construction which has been chosen as illustrative of the embodiment of the principle of our invention, we have shown such construction as applied to a vacuum cleaner fan casing outlet. to provide a conduit-receiving means which shall form an engagement which is strong enough to remain secure against forces incident to air pressure, but nevertheless light enough to permit removal by slight manual force. It is a further object to provide a form of connection which shall be airtight and shall possess no pockets, grooves or recesses wherein dust and dirt may be accumulated and deposited. Another object is to provide an auxiliary manually adjustable conduit securing means which shall operate as a safety device for removably retaining such conduit in connected engagement against the greatest forces which might be exerted thereon. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing the construction embodying the principle of our invention as applied to a well known form of vacuum cleaner; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3

is a section taken substantially upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, we have shown an electric motor designated generally at 1, adapted to rotate the air impeller blades 2 which are enclosed by the casing 3. The casing 3 has a pair of oppositely disposed air inlets 4 and 5. A rotary valve and dust indicating means 6, positioned on the top portion of the fan casing 3 and between the inlets 4 and 5, is adapted to operably connect either one of such inlets at the option of the operator. An air conduit 7 carrying the follower tool 8 may be attached to the inlet 4; and a fibre tube conduit 9 may be attached to the inlet 5. The dirt and dust laden air which is drawn in One of the objects of the present invention is.

through either one of the above described inlets is exhausted through the fan casing outlet indicated generally at 10.

Directing attention more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the fan casing outlet 10 is constructed in the form of an outer cylindrical wall or socket 11 and the substantially shorter and inner cylindrical wall 12, with a conical groove 13 positioned therebetween. A suitable detachable bag coupler conduit tube 14 having an interiorly bevelled end portion 15 is then adapted to be inserted in the above described outlet.

The instant form of conduit 14 illustrated in the accompanying drawing carries the outer tapered sleeve 16 and is adapted to engage with a vacuum cleaner bag 17. The particular features of inventive novelty of the conduit or bag coupling 14 are more particularly described and form the subject matter of our co-pending application Ser. No. 540,525 filed May 28, 1931.

In order to secure the conduit 14 in removable engagement with'the outlet 10, there is provided the detent 20 mounted upon and extending through the outer cylindrical wall 11. The detent 20 is a detachable unit in and of itself consisting of the metallic ball 21 held in compressible position by means of the coil spring 22. The detent assembly 20 may be threadably secured to the wall 11 or clamped thereon by means of the removable bracket plate 23. A circumferential groove 24 extends completely around the outer periphery of the tube 14 and serves as a point of registry for the spring loaded ball 21. Such last described retaining means operates to retain the conduit 14 in engagement against any forces induced by the vacuum cleaner air pressure. It does not however, exert such a gripping force that the tube 14 cannot be readily and conveniently removed by slight manual force.

When it is desirous to more firmly secure the conduit 14 in engagement, such as when a hose attachment is secured thereto, there is provided the knurled thumb screw 25 having the threads 26 which engage the lower portion of the outer wall 11. Upon the inner end of the thumb screw 25 is the hemispherical portion 27 adapted to register with the circumferential groove 24. A bracket 28 secured to the exterior of the fan casing outlet 10 by means of a suitable screw 29 engages with the collar groove 30 of the thumb screw 25. The purpose of the brackets 28 is to prevent the thumb screw 25 from becoming completely disengaged from its threaded position in the outer wall 11.

It will thus be seen that the means herein described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims provides a form of vacuum cleaner construction which possesses the advantages of simplicity, ease of manipulation and functional efiiciency.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. In a suction cleaner, a fan casing outlet in cluding a socket wall, a coupler conduit one end portion of which is socketed therein, and a compressible projecting device engageable with said end portion, said device being in the form of a self contained unit including an annularly flanged casing loosely seated in an opening in said wall, and a bracket secured to the Wall and securing said unit in place with said flange engaging the wall.

2. In a suction cleaner, a fan casing outlet comprising a cylindrical wall, a coupler conduit one end portion of which is socketed therein, said end portion having an annular groove in its outer face, a set screw threaded through said wall and engageable at its tip in said groove, and a spring pressed, retractible projecting element mounted in said wall opposite said set screw and engageable in said groove simultaneously with the engagement thereof by the set screw.

FREDERICK RIEBEL, JR. DEWEY M. DOW. 

